Indiana Arts Advocacy Day January 23, 2012

I will be in attendance at this year's Art Advocacy Day sponsored and facilitated expertly by the Indiana Coalition for the Arts. You can learn more about this important event here: http://www.inartsadvocates.org/main.asp?SectionID=51&SubSectionID=135&ArticleID=149

The Bread and Butter of Fine Arts Experience

I had the privilege of listening to two great art educators speak about creativity during the A.E.A.I.'s State Conference this past November 4th and 5th in Indianapolis.

American art education treasure Enid Zimmerman gave a talk at the I.M.A. about educational strategies that promote the development of creativity in her presentation, "Being a Creative Art Teacher."

In addition, my friend and colleague, professor emeritus from Goshen College Marvin Bartel followed up with a compelling presentation for optimizing learning experiences that promote creativity and divergent thinking capacity by striking the right balance between direct instruction and student directed learning. Dr. Bartel discussed the importance of going beyond stimulating the "mirror genes" and teaching for problem posing skills and the ability to develop and generate ideas.

In our schools today, their is no other place like the art room, devoted specifically to creativity development, a critical 21st Century Thinking Skill. While other industrialized countries are investing in creativity development, the U.S. education system is shortchanging children's critical learning opportunities by cutting fine arts programs throughout schools across the Nation.

Please contact the advocacy committee of the Art Education Association of Indiana at campak14@yahoo.com if you know of a fine arts program serving Indiana school children that is being threatened by cuts or marginalization.

Our children's creative capacities are a national resource we cannot afford to waste.

Starving Our Public Schools....

Was going through the internet this morning and came across this:

http://www.ourfuture.org/report/2011104111/starving-america-s-public-schools

Save Our Schools March July 28-31

See you in D.C.!
http://www.saveourschoolsmarch.org/

Save Our Schools D.C. March July 29-31

If you want to be apart of this huge event, I encourage you to check this link out:
http://www.saveourschoolsmarch.org/

Indisputable Affects of Poverty Upon Education: When Pictures Speak Louder Than Words

Michael Marder, Associate Dean for Science and Mathematics Education at the University of Texas explains why policy makers need to rethink their reforms based on the data.

http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/public-education/is-poverty-the-key-factor-in-student-outcomes/

Art Advocacy Links

National Art Education Organization: http://www.arteducators.org/advocacy

Art Education Association of Indiana: Here www.aeai.org/advocacy

and here: http://www.aeai.org/sitepage.asp?page=ArtDirectory

Arts Education Partnership: http://www.aep-arts.org/

Dana Foundation: Neuroeducation: Learning, Arts and the Brain http://www.dana.org/news/publications/publication.aspx?id=23964

Americans for the Arts: http://www.artsusa.org/get_involved/advocate.asp

Incredible Art Dept: http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/links/artedu.html

Fine Arts Program Status in Indiana Public Schools

I don't want to embarrass Governor Daniels or Dr.Bennett, but I have not read nor heard about any new initiatives from the State Dept. of Education to support or preserve existing fine arts programs in our public schools. This evening I spoke with Dale Chu, Asst. Supt. for Policy, Legal and Communications Operations for the I.D.O.E. I asked him if he knew the extent of fine arts program cuts over the past three years. He answered that he did not and I am certain the I.D.O.E. does not record data on fine arts program cuts.

The I.D.O.E. may say publicly it supports children's public school fine arts programs in Indiana, but where I come from, actions speak louder than words. Significant cuts were made in 2009 and 2010.

The recent cuts in New Albany are very alarming because it represents a pattern of continued degradation and narrowing of the education curricula for 1.1 million children who attend Indiana public schools.

A citizenry prepared to take on the immense challenges of the 21st Century cannot be developed if high quality learning experiences and programs that optimize the refinement of the imagination, capacity for innovation and creative problem solving are cut out of the school curricula.

Our children's creativity is a national resource we cannot afford to waste.

We cannot afford future failures of imagination.

You can contact Dr. Bennett's office here:
http://www.doe.in.gov/superintendent/

Contact Governor Daniels here:
http://www.in.gov/gov/2631.htm

New Albany-Floyd Central Cuts Elementary Fine Arts Programs

NAFC School Board was considering a plan to make deep cuts and votes to eliminate music and art teachers. The board voted tonight to unanimously cut music, art and p.e. teachers. This is a very sad day for Indiana Public Schools.

You can contact the New Albany-Floyd County School Board here:
http://www.nafcs.k12.in.us/

New Albany-Floyd County

If we can get more arts advocates to speak on developmental and cognitive benefits of preserving existing elementary fine arts programs at the New Albany Floyd-County School Board meeting tomorrow night, we have a critical need there.

The meeting takes place on March 14th at 2813 Grant Line Road, New Albany, IN 47150, at 6:00 PM.

Please contact me at campak14@yahoo.com for more information on this event.

March 5th Capitol Rally! Support Public Education!

If you can get to the Capitol on March 5th for the next big public education rally, I encourage you to take some time off this Saturday and get to the State House at 2:30 PM.

I was at the Capitol steps last Saturday with a lot of folks who are concerned with recent legislation proposed by Indiana lawmakers and the negative ramifications it will have on workers, teachers and public education. The event was electric to say the least. If you can make it to the Capitol this March 5th, I encourage you to do so. Bring a sign and dress warm.

The vast majority of Indiana fine arts programs are in the public schools. If the Indiana Legislature thinks it can rob Peter in order to pay Paul, in other words, de-fund public schools in order to pay for vouchers and new charters, they will in essence be cutting music, art, p.e., foreign language and many other critical subjects out of the public education curricula in order to fund their version of "education reform." De-funding public schools is NOT education reform. I will bring that message to lawmakers next Saturday! See you at the State Capitol....

Art Advocay Day Feb. 21: Be Ready!!!

Tomorrow will be a big day at the State Capitol. Arts Advocacy Day will have company when I believe many, many folks will join us inside and around the Capitol to voice their own concerns about new legislative proposals.

Because I have to teach tomorrow, I will be at the capitol at approximately 4:00 PM. Unlike past AA Day events, there will be no tables or display areas this time. Please go to the 2nd floor tomorrow if you can and lobby your legislators to reconsider bills that decrease funding for public schools. It is bad policy to rob Peter to pay Paul, which is what they want to do. In the process, public school staff and programs are left in the lurch and that is when we face program cuts and higher class sizes. Some of their proposals, if enacted, will definitely limit children's opportunity for a quality education. Please see this link: http://www.indianabusinessnews.com/main.asp?SectionID=31&subsectionID=135&articleID=58465 .

I hope to see you at the State Capitol tomorrow....If you need more info on the event check this link out:
http://inartsadvocates.org/main.asp?SectionID=7&SubSectionID=12&ArticleID=136

Squeezing Public Schools by Expanding Charter School Legislation

Whatever is affecting music education in Indiana Public Schools is affecting visual arts educational learning opportunities. This is a great call to action message from the AIME:

The Alliance for Indiana Music Education representing the following organizations: Indiana Music Educators Association, Indiana State School Music Association, Indiana Bandmasters Association, Indiana High School Color Guard Association, Indiana Choral Director's Association, Indiana Percussion Association, Indiana Chapter of the American String Teachers Association, and the Indiana Orff-Schulwerk Association encourages parents of the more than one million public school students served by these organizations to ask their legislators to vote NO to legislation that will result in school corporations being forced to reduce or eliminate music and arts education programs. The two house bills and the corresponding senate bills currently under consideration of particular concern are:



HB 1002/SB 446 (HB 1002 has already passed the House)

HB 1337/SB 575



While neither of these bills makes direct reference to the arts, they along with other initiatives under consideration by the Indiana legislature, will divert money from traditional K-12 public schools, which are already suffering greatly from cuts in state funding. It is critical that you take action now!


HB 1002/SB 446 is an effort to expand charter schools at the expense of traditional K-12 public schools. This bill would require public school districts to lease currently unused buildings to charter schools for $1 a year for 20 years, while requiring the district to incur the cost of maintaining the building. In addition, all transportation costs for charter schools would be paid by public school funds. Another provision in the bill states that only 50% of the teachers in a charter school must hold a teachers' license. Research has not shown that charter schools are more effective in improving student learning, nor is there data to support the use of non-licensed teachers as a path to improving student learning. However, there is a great deal of research supporting the benefits of quality music and arts education programs, as well as the importance of early childhood education. Diverting funds to support the expansion of charter schools from already depleted school budgets will result in reductions and/or the elimination of school music and arts programs. This "education reform" bill does not provide the opportunity for students to enter school "ready to learn", it does not provide an education that meets the needs of the "whole" child, and it does not guarantee ALL students will be taught by a highly-qualified teacher as required by No Child Left Behind. Indiana Code 20-24-2-1 defined the following explicit purpose of charter schools: "to provide innovative and autonomous programs". The expectation is that, as innovative entities, charter schools will construct a school culture conducive to student academic success. The Alliance for Indiana Music Education believes school reform should provide the opportunity for all schools to be more innovative and autonomous and should support public schools' efforts to provide a school culture conducive to student academic success with adequate funding to expand early childhood education and offer quality music and arts education for all students.


Effects of HB 1002/SB 446 on music education in Indiana:

· Funding for traditional K-12 public schools diverted to an increased number of charter schools

· Time and money for the arts reduced or eliminated in traditional K-12 schools and charter schools

· Indiana students taught by non-licensed teachers


HB 1337/SB 575 not only reduces the contractual rights of every teacher, it creates a statewide teacher and principal evaluation system that allows the state to determine the criteria used to label and reward teachers. Included in the criteria, will be student growth data collected from statewide standardized tests in the subject areas the state determines to be important. Although local school districts may create their own evaluation tools, those tools must be approved by the Indiana Department of Education. No provisions have been made to determine how to evaluate and reward highly effective teachers in non-tested subject areas.

Effects of HB 1337/SB 575 on music education in Indiana:

· Teachers in non-tested areas such as music, will likely either be held accountable for student achievement in tested areas, or will not have the opportunity to be rewarded as highly effective teachers, since no evaluation provisions have been established for them.

The Alliance for Indiana Music Education further encourages all citizens of Indiana to vote no to any proposal that would divert funding from K-12 public schools to provide scholarships for students to leave high school early. The completion of required coursework does not guarantee that students are ready to be successful in college. Socialization skills, discipline, organization, and maturity are all factors in determining success in college and in a career. Research does not support the notion that students are more successful in college and/or life when given the financial incentive to leave high school early. This "experiment" would not only have a negative impact on school funding, but could be devastating to those students who advance to college without the maturity or skills to be successful.

Effects of Scholarships for Early Graduation on music education:

· Students rushing to complete required courses in high school would forfeit the opportunity to take classes in music or other options like AP classes that enrich their preparation for college.

Although these proposals do not directly attack school music programs, the negative impact cannot be denied. As in the case with the bill that passed the General Assembly last year requiring all third-graders to pass a new statewide reading test, a negative impact will be placed on elementary music and arts programs, because no additional funding or time was provided. Therefore, the cost of an extra 90 minutes a day of reading will be funded at the expense of recess, music, or art classes.

Past history has taught us that any time public school funding is reduced music and arts programs are jeopardized. DO YOU WANT THE QUALITY MUSIC PROGRAM IN YOUR SCHOOL REDUCED OR ELIMINATED? Many music programs survived the funding cuts last year only because of additional funds provided by the federal government. Indiana should be extremely proud of the quality school music programs we enjoy and the many benefits music programs have provided to hundreds of thousands of Indiana students. How often do we hear it said, "My high school band, choir, orchestra, etc. changed my life." We are at a very critical place in music and arts education and Indiana public education in general. Governor Daniels has presented an education agenda for this General Assembly that could result in destroying music education in Indiana. WE MUST TAKE ACTION NOW! This is not a battle between the ISTA and Governor Daniels. This is a battle for public education in Indiana. We must contact our state legislators TODAY and ask them to vote NO to HB 1337/SB 575, NO to SB 446 and NO to any similar bills presented during this year's General Assembly. We must also encourage other members of our music booster organizations and supportive parents in our communities to support public school education and the quality of life in Indiana by contacting their legislators TODAY.... before it is too late!

INDIANA STATE SCHOOL MUSIC ASSOCIATION
Charles R. Briel, Executive Director
Michael K. Bridgewater, Assistant Executive Director
Rick Granlund, President

INDIANA MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
Barbara Resch, President

Michelle Oyler, President-Elect
Lissa May, Past President

INDIANA CHAPTER - AMERICAN STRING TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Brenda Brenner, President

INDIANA BANDMASTERS ASSOCIATION
Steve Cotten, President

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL COLOR GUARD ASSOCIATION
Bob Medworth, President

INDIANA CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
Scott Buchanan, President

INDIANA PERCUSSION ASSOCIATION
Josh Torres, President

INDIANA ORFF-SCHULWERK ASSOCIATION
Josh Southard, President

IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION

Indiana General Assembly

http://www.in.gov/legislative/index.htm

Indiana State Republicans

http://www.in.gov/legislative/senate_republicans/

Indiana Senate Democrats

http://www.in.gov/legislative/senate_democrats/

Indiana House Republicans

http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_republicans

Indiana House Democrats

http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_democrats

Look Up Indiana Code

http://district.iga.in.gov/DistrictLookup/


When contacting your legislators, we suggest the following:


1. Be courteous and appreciative of their desire to provide the best for all students in Indiana schools.


2. Be concise, but express your concerns in your own words.


3. Provide personal contact information.

Rally for Public Education

Over two thousand teachers converged upon the State Capitol Tuesday Feb. 8th for a Rally to Support Public Education. I do believe lawmakers knew of our prescence. The bad thing is they did not hear our message as Indiana House of Representatives voted to essentially increase taxes, deplete public education spending and expand charter schools in the State of Indiana. HB 1002 passed 58-37. We need more supporters at the next rally!

Support Public Education Rally Tomorrow at the State House!

If you are able to attend I highly recommend your attendance at the State House tomorrow. Here are the details:

Tuesday, February 8

South Atrium, Indiana Statehouse
Downtown Indianapolis
5 p.m. (EDT)

This is our chance to let Indiana's elected leaders know that a strong public education system is vital to the future of our children and our state!

Please join us for lobbying, but if you cannot, PACK YOUR CAR with family, colleagues and other supporters of public education and come to the 5 p.m. RALLY! THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO MAKE OUR PRESENCE KNOWN!
Wear bright colors!

Bring handmade signs & banners!

Come prepared to let legislators know that Indiana's educators care about children and public education!
WE MUST PACK THE STATEHOUSE so that Indiana's elected leaders know that public educators are "in the house" and are not willing to turn their backs on one of the best public school systems in the country!
"The debate is not about how we will run our public schools. It is whether we will have public education. We must fight NOW. If it is not now, it may never be again!" -- Rep. Scott Pelath (HD 9)

3 Things you can do to SAVE PUBLIC EDUCATION in Indiana:

Please e-mail your representative and senator and urge them to meet with you on lobbying day and attend the Rally in person!

Please invite your colleagues and friends to come to the Rally with you. No one can afford to stay home!

Ask your colleagues and public education parents and supporters to contact their legislators also.

See you at the State House tomorrow!!

Expanding Charters and Vouchers in the Indiana Legislature

Governor Mitch Daniels told Indiana voters on Nov. 2nd, he was "finally going to give children an education centered on them." The irony of this statement is that the legislation his party is proposing in the statehouse, has nothing to do with improving learning conditions or providing new learning opportunities for children. It has everything to do with degrading and marginalizing public schools. The barrage of legislation he has aimed at public school educators and children of public schools will have a huge affect on the capacity of our schools to continue to provide quality fine arts learning opportunities. Take for example HB1002: Charter school expansion will only transfer more public money away from the same pot of money that funds public schools. This bill and the voucher bill being proposed in the Indiana State House will certainly degrade public schools capacity to maintain existing fine arts programs.

Never before has there been so many education bills from Indiana State lawmakers aimed at crippling public education and public school educators. I listened to Governor Daniels at the Capitol last Tuesday chide a group of anxious teachers who questioned him on his education policy initiatives. His response? “Teachers make 22% more than the average taxpayer.”

What we have here is a declaration of War on Indiana Public School Educators and this is not right.

If you have not sent your messages of support for public education to your legislators, please do so as soon as possible.

Check in with your colleagues and professional associations on the latest coming out of the State Capitol.

If you have not contacted your legislators yet, you can find them here:
http://www.in.gov/legislative/2345.htm